Express & Star

Call for clarity over post-Brexit policing

Police chiefs in the West Midlands have called for clarity over the UK's security plans after Brexit, warning the Prime Minister not to make the country 'less safe'.

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West Midlands Police Chief Constable Dave Thompson and Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson have aired concerns regarding vital cross-border policing systems once Britain leaves the EU next year.

Mr Thompson warned that a 'no deal' Brexit could see the UK thrown out of EU schemes such as the European Arrest Warrant (EAW), with replacement systems 'slower, more bureaucratic and costly'.

This would make it harder for Britain to 'track or deport dangerous criminals', Mr Jamieson said.

The EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier has suggested Britain will be forced to leave the EAW deal after Brexit, a move which Theresa May is keen to avoid.

Speaking at the monthly meeting of the strategic policing and crime board, Mr Thompson said that on a national level police had started planning for a no deal Brexit.

"I think it would be fair to say that the systems would be slower, more bureaucratic and costly," he said.

Asked if he was satisfied that proper preparations were being made for policing post-Brexit, Mr Thompson said that the continuance of the current arrangements – as favoured by the government – would be ideal.

Mr Jamieson said: "It is clear that a huge amount of work remains for the government and police forces [over Brexit].

"People did not vote for their safety to be compromised, nor did they expect Brexit to make it harder for the UK to track or deport dangerous criminals.

"The Government need to make sure that the UK leaving the EU does not make us less safe."

At the moment the 28 EU member states can issue warrants for criminals across the continent without bureaucratic extradition negotiations between countries.

Mr Barnier has said Britain would be forced to leave the EAW agreement because it is 'linked to the free movement of people'.